Research overview: feral cats and public health

Free-roaming cats intersect with human health through zoonotic disease, and this overview surveys the public-health dimensions of feral and community cat populations. It examines concerns including rabies, where unvaccinated free-roaming cats can be involved in exposure, toxoplasmosis, cat-scratch disease and various parasites, as well as the role of vaccination within trap-neuter-return in mitigating some risks. The survey discusses the epidemiology of these conditions, the debate over how much feral cats contribute to human disease burden, and the public-health arguments invoked in cat management policy. It situates these issues alongside welfare and conservation concerns, presenting public health as one of several considerations shaping how communities respond to free-roaming cats, and noting that vaccination and population management can reduce, though not eliminate, associated risks.